HTX-LHK: Impact 10/29/2025

Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company—or Lilly—announced its plans to build a $6.5 billion manufacturing facility at Generation Park at a news conference Sept. 23.

The overview: Lilly officials said the site will bring 615 jobs to the area, including positions for engineers, scientists and lab technicians. Geration Park, a 4,300-acre master-planned community in northeast Houston, was selected through an application process based on criteria including workforce potential, local incentives, access to utilities and transportation, and a favorable business environment.

Lilly officials also said they expect to create 4,000 construction jobs in the area as the site build takes off.

Quote of note: “I think our site will change the face of the northeast side of Houston ... but [Lilly] will also change lives of families of people who come work for us. These are high-quality jobs, high-paying jobs,” David Ricks, Eli Lilly and Company chair and CEO, said at the conference.

Check out what's happening in the Lake Houston area this weekend, Oct. 31-Nov. 3. 

‘The Sound of Music’: Enjoy this musical presented by the Kingwood High School Theatre Department.

• Oct. 30, Nov. 1 and Nov. 3, 7 p.m.; Nov. 1, 2 p.m.
• $30 (adults), $15 (students)
• 2701 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood

• Oct. 31, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• $175 (individual seat)
• Humble Civic Center, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble

Harris County commissioners will meet Oct. 30 with more than 300 agenda items on the docket, including potential discussions on panhandling and roadside vendor regulations, a public hearing on the Ben Taub Hospital expansion and results from the county’s pay equity study.

What you need to know: New laws restricting or banning panhandling and vendors along roadways may be coming to unincorporated Harris County in light of a state bill that went into effect Sept. 1. During Harris County Commissioner Court's Oct. 16 meeting, Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey brought the motion to create new guidelines on roadside vendors. 

Also on the agenda: Harris Health officials look to authorize notice of a public hearing Dec. 11 about the acquisition of nearly 9 acres of Hermann Park for the redevelopment and expansion of Ben Taub Hospital in the Texas Medical Center.

What else: County human resources officials look to discuss results from the Gallagher Consulting pay equity study, with the possible action to implement recommendations.

A total of 79,647 in-person and mail ballot votes have been cast in Harris County halfway through the 12-day early voting period ahead of the Nov. 4 general and special elections, according to the county clerk’s office.

By the numbers: That’s nearly 607,000 less votes compared to the 2024 general election early voting numbers, where Harris County voters cast more than 686,500 ballot votes. The county’s voter registration department found that more than 2.5 million people are registered voters in the county.

At the polls: Early in-person voting runs from Oct. 20-31, and Election Day is Nov. 4. For more information about what’s on the ballot and what to bring to the polls, visit www.communityimpact.com/election.

Quote of note: Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth said in an October news release the county will have 70 early voting locations and 600 voting locations on Election Day.

“This election provides Harris County voters an opportunity to shape the future of their communities and impact leadership at both the local and state levels,” Hudspeth said.

Texas homeowners could see larger property tax breaks on this year’s bills if voters approve two state propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The details: Proposition 13 would raise the property tax exemption on a Texas homeowner’s main residence, known as a homestead exemption, from $100,000 to $140,000. Proposition 11 would give homeowners who are over 65 years old or have a disability a $200,000 exemption.

The exemptions would apply only to taxes charged by public schools.

The impact: Sen. Paul Bettencourt, the Houston Republican who authored the legislation, estimated in June that the average Texas homeowner would see about $484 in annual savings if the tax cuts are approved by voters, with roughly $950 in savings for seniors and people with disabilities. These estimates do not account for potential tax rate increases by local governments.

If voters approve the two ballot measures, the cuts will take effect for the current tax year and appear on homeowners’ upcoming tax bills, according to the Texas House Research Organization.